Hypoxis villosa flower

The bright yellow flowers of Hypoxis villosa grow in few-flowered, stalked, erect clusters. The flowers are hairless inside, while long white hairs are present on the outside surfaces of the tepals. Tufts of hairs are visible in the photo at the tips of the three spreading outer tepals that earlier enclosed the buds.

The six oblong anthers are visible in the photo, spreading over the tepals around the three-locular ovary and short, cylindrical style. Flower diameter is up to 35 mm.

The specific name, villosa, is a Latin word meaning hairy or shaggy. The common name (one of several), shaggy stargrass, describes the leaves and flowers.

Flowering happens from winter to summer (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; Gledhill, 1981; iNaturalist; www.pacificbulbsociety.org).